Background

“Nama Sub-county is located in Mukono District, Uganda. Access to services and opportunities are rare for the population of approximately 15,000 residents, about half of which are under the age of 15. Nama is a peri-urban environment and the majority of the population is earns their living on subsistence farming. Residents of the area have been affected especially hard by the HIV epidemic as Mukono lies on the trans-continental highway which links central Africa with the Indian Ocean coast. Female-headed households comprise 60-70% of homes as many husbands have either passed away or left their wives and children to care for themselves. The average life expectancy is just 52 years old.

Our local partner, Mpoma Community HIV/AIDS Initiative, was founded in 1999 by a group of people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. What began as a small group of caretakers concerned about their children’s futures has grown into a community focused on economic opportunities and healthy living. At the time of partnership their major accomplishment had been the creation of a community primary school - The Johnson Nkosi Memorial Primary School and community health outreaches.